diff --git a/widgets/mainwindow.cpp b/widgets/mainwindow.cpp
index a4fce9831..a83391636 100644
--- a/widgets/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/widgets/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -745,6 +745,17 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QDir const& temp_directory, bool multiple,
               }
           });
 
+#if defined(Q_OS_WIN)
+  // ensure a balanced layout of the mode buttons both on Windos and MacOS
+  ui->houndButton->setMaximumWidth(40);
+  ui->ft8Button->setMaximumWidth(40);
+  ui->ft4Button->setMaximumWidth(40);
+  ui->msk144Button->setMaximumWidth(40);
+  ui->q65Button->setMaximumWidth(40);
+  ui->jt65Button->setMaximumWidth(40);
+#endif
+
+
   // hook up save WAV file exit handling
   connect (&m_saveWAVWatcher, &QFutureWatcher<QString>::finished, [this] {
       // extract the promise from the future
diff --git a/widgets/mainwindow.ui b/widgets/mainwindow.ui
index c4ddd6e5f..bc7a4fb73 100644
--- a/widgets/mainwindow.ui
+++ b/widgets/mainwindow.ui
@@ -2875,7 +2875,7 @@ QLabel[oob=&quot;true&quot;] {
              </property>
              <property name="maximumSize">
               <size>
-               <width>40</width>
+               <width>16777215</width>
                <height>16777215</height>
               </size>
              </property>
@@ -2900,7 +2900,7 @@ QLabel[oob=&quot;true&quot;] {
              </property>
              <property name="maximumSize">
               <size>
-               <width>40</width>
+               <width>16777215</width>
                <height>16777215</height>
               </size>
              </property>
@@ -2922,7 +2922,7 @@ QLabel[oob=&quot;true&quot;] {
              </property>
              <property name="maximumSize">
               <size>
-               <width>40</width>
+               <width>16777215</width>
                <height>16777215</height>
               </size>
              </property>
@@ -2944,7 +2944,7 @@ QLabel[oob=&quot;true&quot;] {
              </property>
              <property name="maximumSize">
               <size>
-               <width>40</width>
+               <width>16777215</width>
                <height>16777215</height>
               </size>
              </property>
@@ -2966,7 +2966,7 @@ QLabel[oob=&quot;true&quot;] {
              </property>
              <property name="maximumSize">
               <size>
-               <width>40</width>
+               <width>16777215</width>
                <height>16777215</height>
               </size>
              </property>
@@ -2988,7 +2988,7 @@ QLabel[oob=&quot;true&quot;] {
              </property>
              <property name="maximumSize">
               <size>
-               <width>40</width>
+               <width>16777215</width>
                <height>16777215</height>
               </size>
              </property>